Greene also shows Craven as being an envious character. “He hated them, and hated his hatred because he knew what it was, envy.” Craven covets money and love, “He was reminded of passion, but you needed money for love. . . love needed a good suit, a car, a flat somewhere, or a good hotel.” He covets that which he does not have. This fascinates me and provides us with an insight in Greene’s personal character. Recent research on the life of Graham Greene has shown that he hired many prostitutes. This is reflected in Craven’s view that you need money for love, which is what Greene also believed.
Craven is also losing his faith in God.. He asks himself, “Why should he be asked to believe in the resurrection of this body he wanted to forget?” We also get the impression from this Craven might be old and his body decaying. But this decay of his body is not merely in the physical sense. It has a spiritual meaning too. In the Christian religion resurrection of the body upon the return of Christ is an important theme. Again this is interesting because it gives us another insight into Greene himself. He came from a very strict Catholic background which he rebelled against. Consequently much of his work is about guilt, conscience and the effects of straying from godliness.
Craven finds posters advertising a theatre which is showing a film. This theatre is much like Craven. Old, decaying and tired. The film he goes to see is about death and suicide. I think that the fact that this is the only film that is showing is meant to show that death is inevitable and unavoidable and there is no choice about it, it just happens. There is an interesting line from the film Craven is watching which says, “I am not afraid of death, Lucius- in your arms.” This shows a contrast with Craven, who is afraid of death, has nobody in his life, he is lonely. He is now losing his faith also, and fears death because he realises that his body will not be resurrected. His body is corrupt, he wants to rid himself of it, yet he fears death as he has nothing. “Sometimes he prayed at night that his body at any rate should never rise again.”
When Craven enters the theatre and begins watching the film we are introduced to the second character in the story. He is unnamed and referred to only as a bearded man. Craven’s reaction to this character is interesting. Craven sees him as everything he fears is happening to himself. Craven asks himself of the bearded man, ‘Was he mad?’
The characterization of this character is interesting because it makes us realise more about Craven. It makes us realise the fear Craven has of turning mad. What the bearded man is is a part of Craven’s mind. He is not really there and is just a figment of Craven’s imagination. But Craven and the bearded man are one and the same. Both are unkempt and lonely.
At the end of the story Craven calls the police. “It’s the body that’s disappeared.” It is Craven’s body that has disappeared. He has been murdered and his body has gone. When he looks at himself in the mirror he sees blood on his face.
By losing his faith in religion Craven has lost the only thing which was really important to him. He had no family or friends and his solitude consumes him.
